Busyness. We’ve all seen it. The colleague who seems to always be typing furiously, clutching a folder as if it holds the secrets to national security, or walking briskly to nowhere in particular. In UK offices, where appearing busy can sometimes seem more important than actually being busy, a curious culture has quietly taken root: the subtle, occasionally cheeky art of looking like you’re hard at work.
But why do we do it? What are the classic moves? And what does it say about the modern workplace? Let’s take a peek behind the spreadsheets.
Why Does Everyone Seem So Busy?
In the UK, “busyness” has become more than a state of being – it’s a badge of honour. Long hours, packed calendars, and overflowing inboxes are worn like trophies. Even outside of work, people compete over how hectic their lives are. Ask someone how they’re doing, and you’ll often get: “Busy, mate. You?”
There are a few reasons for this:
- Work culture still rewards visibility over efficiency. Many UK workplaces value people who appear flat out, regardless of whether the output matches the effort.
- Fear of looking idle. If you’re sat quietly thinking or simply caught without your screen open, it can look like you’re slacking – even if you’re solving a problem in your head.
- Status symbol: Being busy suggests you’re in demand, important, and contributing.
- Tech-fuelled pressure: Thanks to smartphones and hybrid working, it’s harder than ever to draw a line between “on” and “off”. The pressure to always look engaged has only intensified.
Enter: the art of looking busy.
Classic Ways UK Office Workers Appear to Be Working
Let’s be honest – you’ve probably used one or two of these yourself. Here are the most common office tactics for keeping up appearances when you’re not quite ready to tackle the actual workload.
1. The Email Shuffle
Staring intently at your inbox, occasionally clicking between folders. Maybe even opening an old email and sighing at it. Bonus points for typing a reply, then deleting it and starting again. It looks like deep work. It’s mostly admin theatre.
2. The Strategic Walkabout
Grabbing a folder or notebook and walking briskly around the office, maybe stopping by someone’s desk to “check in”. To the untrained eye, this is a meeting in motion. In reality, it’s just a quick escape from the desk – possibly towards the biscuit tin.
3. The Calendar Camouflage
Blocking out your calendar with ambiguous titles like “Client Review”, “Admin Time”, or “Strategy Session”. These mysterious blocks make you look unavailable, which can help you dodge spontaneous meetings or new tasks.
4. The Desk Prop Method
Keeping a notepad open with a few half-written bullet points. Add a highlighter or Post-it note for extra effect. From across the room, it screams “I’m in the zone.” Up close, it’s yesterday’s shopping list.
5. Spreadsheet Gazing
Nothing looks more professional than a spreadsheet full of numbers. Whether you’re budgeting or just colour-coding cells, it gives the illusion of data-driven decision-making. Even if you’re actually reorganising your fantasy football stats.
6. The ‘Alt-Tab’ Reflex
Quickly switching screens from social media to a work doc as soon as footsteps approach. A time-honoured tradition in open-plan offices.
7. The Online, But Invisible Move
On Teams or Slack, you’re always marked as “Available” – even if you’re watching Netflix with your laptop open. You might even send a couple of 7:59 a.m. or 6:04 p.m. messages to show dedication. Crafty.
What Does This Say About the Modern UK Workplace?
At first glance, it’s funny. But underneath the chuckles lies something more serious.
This performative busyness often stems from a culture of presenteeism, where showing up and looking busy is valued more than what you actually achieve. It’s particularly pronounced in industries where output isn’t always easy to measure – creative roles, admin-heavy jobs, or client-facing positions.
For many, this behaviour is also a coping mechanism. If you’re overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or just exhausted, looking busy can buy you breathing space without having to explain yourself.
And let’s not ignore the pressures of hybrid working. When you’re not in the office full-time, people often feel they need to “prove” they’re working – hence the increase in digital performance: visible statuses, constant online presence, and “just checking in” emails at all hours.
The Impact: When Busyness Becomes a Problem
On one hand, looking busy might help you avoid unwanted interruptions or delay being given more to do. But over time, it can:
- Fuel burnout, as people feel pressure to keep up appearances rather than rest
- Create mistrust, especially in teams where effort is mistaken for output
- Distract from real productivity, as more time goes into performing work than doing it
- Waste talent, with energy spent masking inactivity instead of tackling root causes like unclear goals, poor workload management, or lack of motivation
It’s a little ironic – people who seem the busiest aren’t always the most productive, and those working most effectively may not always look like they’re grinding.
How to Ditch the Busyness Pretence and Focus on Real Work
If you’ve found yourself slipping into performative busyness, you’re not alone. But there are better ways to protect your time and energy:
- Communicate your workload openly with managers or colleagues. You shouldn’t need to “act busy” to be left alone to focus.
- Prioritise deep work – block out time for focused tasks and give yourself permission to ignore distractions.
- Challenge the culture – if your team values presence over results, raise the issue. Share articles. Talk about actual output.
- Take breaks without guilt – being productive doesn’t mean being glued to your desk.
- Redefine success – less about appearances, more about meaningful progress.
Final Thought: Everyone’s Faking It… Sometimes
Let’s be real – we’ve all had slow days, or moments where we just can’t face the inbox. And yes, sometimes a strategic trip to the printer is the mental reset you need. That’s human.
But if looking busy becomes the norm rather than the exception, it might be time to rethink how your workplace defines productivity – and whether that “urgent admin time” in your diary could be better spent actually getting something done… or having a real lunch break.
So next time you see someone clutching a highlighter and staring meaningfully at their monitor, give them a nod. They’re playing the game. Just make sure it’s not the only game in town.
